Last week we looked at the three soil conditions which were not good for a fruitful crop of faith to grow. In the verse 23 Jesus says that the good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. This seems simple, but how does a person understand the word? Is understanding simply a matter of intellect? No. So, how do we read and understand parables?

Matthew 13:10-11 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”  He replied, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.